Supercharger Turbocharger Bypass Back Draft Inlet Damper for Series Operation

Abstract

A damper system for placement between a supercharger and a turbocharger. The damper is located in a plenum placed within the air path from the supercharger to the turbocharger. If the plenum is under positive pressure from the supercharger, the damper seals shut against the plenum, allowing the supercharger to build positive boost pressure to the turbocharger. The damper is designed to stay closed until the plenum experiences a slightly negative pressure. The damper then opens to expose the turbocharger inlet to atmospheric pressure. This allows the turbocharger to intake the airflow from the smaller supercharger, but also to intake additional airflow from the ambient air at atmospheric pressure. The damper allows an engine to take advantage of the low RPM and low load performance and efficiency of smaller superchargers and the performance and efficiency of larger turbochargers under higher load and higher exhaust mass flow rate.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A damper system for operation between a supercharger and a turbocharger configured in a series to facilitate a flow of air through the turbocharger into an internal combustion engine, the damper system comprising:
 a walled enclosure, the walled enclosure comprising a plurality of walls defining a generally sealed interior volume;   an inlet conduit, positioned through a first one of the plurality of walls of the walled enclosure, providing an air flow pathway into the enclosure from outside the enclosure;   an outlet conduit, positioned through a second one of the plurality of walls of the walled enclosure, providing an air flow pathway out from the enclosure to outside of the enclosure; and   a damper valve assembly positioned over an opening defined in one of the plurality of walls of the walled enclosure, the damper valve assembly movable between a closed position sealing the interior volume of the walled enclosure and an open position allowing air flow into the interior volume of the walled enclosure;   wherein the output of the supercharger is connected to the inlet conduit and the input of the turbocharger is connected to the outlet conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The damper system of  claim 1  further comprising an air filter rack configured around the opening defined in one of the plurality of walls of the walled enclosure associated with the damper valve assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The damper system of  claim 1  wherein the damper valve assembly comprises:
 a valve door; 
 a valve door hinge, the door hinge comprising a first hinge component attached to the valve door and a second hinge component attached to an interior surface of one of the plurality of walls of the walled enclosure; and 
 a spring positioned on the valve door hinge so as to preference the valve door closed.